ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL -- St. Lucie County deputies conducted an undercover operation Thursday night to see how many bars, restaurants, liquor and drug stores would sell alcohol illegally to minors.
With the help of college students from Indian River State College, deputies visited establishments throughout the county.
Out of 92 attempts, the undercover teens successfully bought alcohol 32 times. That's a 35% non-compliance rate. Deputies say that's up significantly from years past, when non-compliance rates typically averaged in the 20-25% range. In previous years, however, deputies focused almost exclusively on convenience stores.
"I can base some of that because we expanded the venues. I'm thinking that can account for the increase. But again the message is clear do not sell to someone that does not have an ID," said St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara.
Violators were charged with a misdemeanor and given a notice to appear in court.
Here are the businesses found in non-compliance by selling alcohol to those under 21:
Olive Garden Restaurant
10221 SW Meeting Street
Port St. Lucie
Walgreen’s Drug Store
1954 SW Gatlin Blvd
Port St. Lucie
Walgreen’s Drug Store
2901 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd
Port St. Lucie
Walgreen’s Drug Store
1025 Port St. Lucie Blvd.
Port St. Lucie
Nino’s Italian Restaurant
5018 Sunshine State Parkway
Fort Pierce
BP Gas Station
2091 SW Gatlin Blvd.
Port St. Lucie
BP Gas Station
1228 Orange Avenue
Fort Pierce
Norris South Restaurant
6598 South U.S. 1
Port St. Lucie, Fl
Ruby Tuesday Restaurant
1500 NW Courtyard Circle
Port St. Lucie
Chevron Gas Station
1924 SW Gatlin Blvd
Port St. Lucie
Tropical Martini
8589 South U.S. 1
Port St. Lucie
One Stop
2501 Avenue P
Fort Pierce
Taste of India
6636 South U.S. 1
Port St. Lucie
Discount Liquor and Beverage
2828 Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie
Charlie’s Good Times
9144 South U.S. 1
Port St. Lucie
Bravo Supermarket
2806 Port St. Lucie Blvd.
Port St. Lucie
Norris’s North
3080 North U.S. 1
Fort Pierce
Valero Gas Station
2829 Okeechobee Road
Fort Pierce
Pappy’s Liquor (two arrests)
6939 Okeechobee road
Ft. Pierce
La Granja Restaurant
1006 South U.S. 1
Fort Pierce
Chevron Gas Station
119 SW Cashmere Blvd
Port St. Lucie
Peking Restaurant
1012 South U.S. 1
Fort Pierce
Sunoco Gas Station
3306 Orange Avenue
Fort Pierce
Lefty’s Wings
1034 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd.
Port St. Lucie
Shea’s Pub
315 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd.
Port St. Lucie
Texaco Gas Station
1010 Seaway Drive
Fort Pierce
Shell Gas Station
1203 South U.S. 1
Fort Pierce
Shell Gas Station
702 SW Bayshore Blvd
Port St. Lucie
Pueblo Viejo III
1301 South U.S. 1
Fort Pierce
Applebee’s Restaurant
10501 South U.S. 1
Port St. Lucie
Salim Food Mart
1510 North 25th Street
Fort Pierce
